The billionaire Roman Karkosik puts the highest monument to the Mother of God. “Pharaohon project”

On Saturday, the British daily “Financial Times” describes the project of Polish billionaire Roman Karkosik, from whose initiative in the village of Konotopie (Kujawsko-Pomorskie) the highest monument to the Mother of God is being created in Europe. The figure is to be 55 m high and according to “FT” will be consecrated on August 15, 2026.

As the newspaper reports, on the plot belonging to Karkosik, where “a huge, almost Pharaoan project” is being implemented, there are two cranes, and workers are building a crown -shaped pedestal. Nearby, in the town of Kikół, there is a Karkosik house, one of the richest entrepreneurs in Poland, which – as “FT” emphasizes – avoids contacts with the media.

Mieczysław Grębicki, a village head of 120 inhabitants of the village of Konotopie, in an interview with the daily says that the scale of the project was not a surprise for those who know the faith of Karkosik and his reputation “a serious businessman who does not kidding” in the matter of investment. It was reminded that 15 years ago the billionaire financed the reconstruction of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Sorrows in Konotopia, a pilgrimage place from the 19th century.

– Poland was born with Catholic values ​​and maintaining this Christian culture as a nation is fundamental – argues Grębicki.

According to priest Marek Mrówczyński, a priest from the parish of St. Wojciech Bishop and Martyr in Kikole, erecting a monument is a confession of faith. – This is the heart of Poland, a place where our country's heart really beats. (…) Regardless of whether you are a believer or not, when you come here, you will look at the sky to see our Mother of God – he said in an interview with the British newspaper.

As the daily writes, many village residents count on the construction of the figure to enliven pilgrimage tourism and positively affect local companies. “Although the turnout in churches in Poland has fallen significantly, the main pilgrimage place in the country – the Sanctuary of the Black Madonna in Częstochowa – attracts about 4 million pilgrims a year,” reads the article.

The monument to Our Lady of Sorrows in Konotopia is to be higher than the monument of Christ the Savior in Rio de Janeiro (measuring 38.5 meters), as well as from the monument of Christ the King in Świebodzin, which together with the mound rises to a height of 52.5 meters.

From London Marta Zabłocka (PAP)

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